For many people, rats are viewed as disgusting, creepy animals that spend their time sneaking around and spending their time in the trash. Although that may be true of wild rats, domesticated pet rats are far from that; they make great pets.

Despite what we have believed most of our lives, they are actually super clean, which probably comes as a surprise to many people. They groom themselves constantly and actually hate being dirty. Rats clean their fur right away when something gets on it. Because of their regular grooming habits, they rarely need baths, if at all. The only rats that really need bathing are old, obese, or ill rats that can't groom themselves. Also, if your rats are not fixed, they may urinate more than other rats so they may need baths.

In addition to this, rats are super smart and empathetic. They are often used in psychological experiments to help better understand human behavior. They are very easily trained to do tricks, master puzzles, run through mazes, and even solve simple problems. All they need to do all these amazing things is a dedicated owner and a yummy treat as a reward. For example, rats can fetch, put a ball through a hoop, and respond to their names. Not only that, but they will show empathy and compassion for other rats when they are in distress — a quality which people often only associate with humans.

Rats make lifelong bonds with their owners. My friend has several rats and they recognize him by sight and respond to his voice, so they definitely know who their owner is and love when they're around. They are very social and love to lay on their human family members' shoulders and laps. Pet rats enjoy the contact of their caretakers and love to cuddle.

Sadly, rats don't live long, but this can make them an ideal pet for those who don't want a long-living pet. They typically only live for two to three years. Because of this, it is important to make sure they are getting optimal care by taking them to the vet regularly. Also, rats need their bedding changed every week, a diet specifically for them, clean water, and a small amount of table food such as bits of cooked egg, pasta, meat, and occasionally nuts and seeds. They also need exercise — running in a wheel in their cage as well as plenty of out of cage time.

My friend that I mentioned above has several rats and, from the moment I met them, I fell in love with them. They are smart and fun and just so adorable. I plan to adopt two myself. They are very sociable, not just with their humans but also with their cage mates. Another tip: you cannot have just one rat. Without another rat friend, they will get so sad and won't eat, so they die. Make sure you at least have two so they can live a long and happy life! So if you want an intelligent, cute, entertaining, and interactive pet, consider getting a rat.